Norwell gym is health haven for mothers

Mamas Move is a new fitness and wellness center in Norwell that caters to new, expectant and veteran moms and their kids.

By LAUREN DALEY

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By LAUREN DALEY

Posted Jul. 8, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 8, 2008 at 8:10 AM

By LAUREN DALEY

Posted Jul. 8, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 8, 2008 at 8:10 AM

NORWELL

» Social News

When Ulrike Fernald was pregnant with her second child two years ago, she developed gestational diabetes. ``The doctors told me it would put me at higher risk for diabetes later in life, so I’m trying to live healthy,'' said Fernald, 30, of Cohasset.

Her health aside, another challenge for Fernald was finding a place to work out that was also kid-friendly. So Fernald, like many other South Shore moms, joined Mamas Move, a new fitness and wellness center in Norwell that caters to new, expectant and veteran moms and their kids.

``I started coming to Mamas Move in March, and I love it,'' said Fernald, who, along with her two sons ages 3 and 1 takes a class called Musical Movement on Fridays and Pilates on Thursdays and Sundays.

Recognizing the unique fitness needs of moms Lauren Hendry, 38, and Julie Ross, 31, founded Mamas Move earlier this year. Their mission is ``to create a destination for mom where she can get all of her needs met as far as fitness, wellness, and doing activities with her children,'' Hendry said.

Hendry, a mother of two from Quincy, is a certified trainer, fitness instructor and pre/postnatal exercise specialist. Ross is a certified public accountant from Quincy.

``We’re a support group that moves. It’s fitness for mom and fun for kids,'' Hendry said.

Adds Ross, ``The whole idea was to create a one-stop shop for moms, where moms can meet other moms, share experiences; a place where moms and their kids can take classes together.''

Next to the shopping area is ``Mama’s Time Out Room'' – free organic coffee, tea and cocoa, and healthy snacks for sale.

``We strive to be eco-friendly because our children need a planet, too,'' Hendry said. ``Building the gym, we used natural flooring, nontoxic paint. We sell products that are environmentally friendly.'' Another studio, a kids’ craft area and a parent’s lounge are being added this summer.

Mamas Move has about 100 members, about 20 of whom are pregnant, Hendry said. They also get nonmember moms who sign up for occasional fitness classes.

``About five years ago I started doing mom and baby classes, and just kind of hearing from moms that they wish they had a place they could go without dropping kids off in a baby area,'' said Hendry, who has worked as a fitness instructor for 20 years.

``They wanted to meet other moms, take classes with their children, and to have a home base, a network,'' she said.

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After Ross, a former client of Hendry’s, approached her about the idea of a gym for moms, ``we realized there wasn’t anything out there'' specifically for moms, Ross said.

``When we started, we just wanted to offer moms something,'' Hendry added. ``Now we’ve evolved into a true mom center.''

A sisterhood of mothers

Fernald said she hasn’t found a gym like Mamas Move anywhere. ``There’s not many places where I can take kids into the gym and no one cares, or if they want to go play, they can play. It takes the stress out of ‘Where do I put my kids?’ I wish they had been open when I was pregnant. You can’t take your babies to class with you anywhere else.''

Andrea Rodericks, 42 joined two months ago after the birth of her son; she also has 2-year-old twin girls.

``This is a place where my family and I can move our bodies, expand our minds and strengthen our spirits,'' said Rodericks. She has taken Ease on Back and her kids have taken Itsty Bitsy Yoga, Terrific Twos and Musical Movement.

``Before I joined, we were going to all different places for individual classes,'' she said.

Melanie Kelly, 36, of Norwell, said her 2-year-old daughter asks her ``all week long, ‘When are we going back to dance class?’''

Kelly said she joined right when they opened. ``I had been looking for something like this on the South Shore. I’d previously gone to a few (similar gyms) north of Boston, and kept on saying we need something like this on the South Shore.''

Kelly has taken Zumba Mama and her daughter takes Musical Movement and Terrific Twos.

``She loves it. I love it,'' Kelly said.

There’s also a sisterhood among the moms.

``You walk in and you get a sense of belonging,'' Kelly said. ``You have such a common connection to everyone else in the room. It’s like a home away from home.

Stroller Class – For pre-or postnatal moms with babies, toddlers or preschoolers. ``It’s like boot camp with a stroller,'' said Hendry.

Zumba Mama – From salsa to hip-hop, this is a Latin dance-inspired class open to all moms.

Ease on Back – Brings mom and baby together while building mom’s strength and endurance. It combines yoga, Pilates and Zumba, and lets mom exercise with baby.

Empower – For moms who are at least 10 -to 12-weeks postpartum; it combines boot camp drills, boxing and strength drills. ``It’s for moms who are ready to take their workouts to the next level,'' Hendry said.

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Pop Dance – A dance class for 4- to 8-year-olds that uses songs from ``Hannah Montana'' and The Jonas Brothers.